Joint construction



Feb. 6, 1940. R E, KLAGES 2,169,266

JOINT CONSTRUCTION Filed DSC. l, 1957 ,man

BY FI E. 5. M TTOR EY/dAH/U Patented Feb. 6, 14940 l UNITED :STATES This invention relates' to joint constructions and is more `specifically directed to articulated joints and more especially to ball joints adapted for tie rod and drag link `connections used in steering mechanism of 'automotive the like. j

The invention contemplates the provision of a joint constructionhaving a bearing seat element having surfaces arranged to cooperate with both vehicles and the stud member and the joint housing cooper? v. ating with resilient means for taking up or com-` pensating for wear vof the parts v The invention embraces the provision of a joint structure of the ball and socket type wherein a bearing seat member is interposed between the ball portion of the joint and the housing whereby both reiative tilting andA rotary movement of the 'ball member causes relative movement between one or more sets of bearing surfaces.

. Another object of the invention-is the provision of a jointr structure of the ball and socket type incorporating a bearing seatmember so arranged Y that the wear caused by relative movements of one portion of the joint is distributed over several surfaces whereby normal wearof the several elements is greatly decreased.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a joint structure wherein a portion of reduced, the arrangement including a means for` automatically maintaining the several elements ofthe joint structure in proper operating position.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of `this invention'such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, tovarious details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements 'per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of j the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which: v

Figure 1 isa vertical sectional joint construction of my invention;

Figure 2 is a planl view showing a bearing seat member forming anelement of the invention;

Figure 3 is a section takenv substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; V j Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken Vsubstantially on the line -ll of Figure 1;.`

Figure `5 is" an enlarged .fragmentary detail view showing a v sectional view illustrating an operation of` the joint structure during tilting movements of one of the elements of the joint;

PATENT' @mcs 1 Figure 6 is a View of a joint housing showing a Vrnodiiied form of` Ameans forv lubricating the l joint.

While I have illustrated the joint` construction of `my, invention as especially arranged for a tie rod connection', it is to be `understood that I contemplate the useof my'invention in anycoupling or joint construction wherever the same may be i i found tohave utility; -1 l Referring `to the drawing in detail,k I, have illusi trated a form; 'of joint construction in which.

numeral l0 designatesthe end portion of a tie rod preferably of i'ubularr formation which is inte-f riorly threaded as at `ll and receiving a threaded j tenon i2 formed, in the embodiment illustrated,

as an integral extension of the joint housing I4.

`The end of the tie rod ll) is preferably split longiarrangement serving tohold the tie rod lll andv tenon l2 in adjusted relationship.

The longitudinal axis of the threaded tenon l2 in the form shown is substantially at right angles to the axis of passage 2li formed in thehousing Ill. The passage 2B is preferably formed at its llower portion with a' cylindrical wall il! terminating at its upper portion in asegmental spherical config-` uration 22. Positioned within the passageor opening 2li in the housing and contactingwith the spherically shaped surface 22lthereofis` an annular bearing seat or member 23 preferably having its .outer and inner surfaces of segmental spherical configuration generated about the same een* ter, the outer surface of the bearing seat ymember being of a curvature to conform to and fit `the spherical surface 22 of thehousing.

`The joint construction includes a stud member ihavng a tapered shankvportifon 2t adaptedto receive an arm 30 which is connected to one of 1 the steering wheels (not shown)v of the vehicle,

the arm 30 being held in place by means of a washer 3! and a nut 32 engageablewith a threaded tenon 33 formed vat theupper end'of the stud,

l the nut being locked in position by meansjof a Cotter key 34. The stud 25 is provided' with an( inverted frusto-conical portion $56 which termic nates in a segmental spherical or ball shaped por- 'Ihe bottom part of the housing is closed by means of a plate 39, the plate being held in place by swaging or distorting an annular edge portion 40 of the housing into the position shown in Figure 1. Interposed between the plate 39 and the stud 25 and fitting into a recess 42 in the stud is an expansive coil spring 43 having its uppermost convolutions 44 of substantially the same diameter, while the lowermost convolution 45 is of a considerably larger diameter, this form of spring servingfto maintain asubstantially uniform upward pressure upon the stud member irrespective of tilting movements of the stud member.

The coil spring of the special characterv incorporated in my invention wherein the lowermost convolution is of larger diameter than the others permits a tilting of the stud member, and as the spring is temporarily distorted through such tilting, the small convolutions of the spring may be deflected by the angular movement of thev stud and tilted linto the space' formed by the lowermost large convolution of the spring. Thus, a substantially uniform spring pressure is at all times provided against the stud member during all angular positions of the stud and yet provides ample space for the distortion of the smaller convolutions of the spring during angular movement of the stud. Moreoventhe Stud may move to various angular positions without any slipping of the spring taking place.

The opening in the housing through which the stud member 25 projects is closed by means of a sealing gasket d6 of felt or other suitable material above which is arranged a metallic washer 4l. A spring i8 interposed between the washer ll and the arm 30 serves to maintain the gasket 23 in engagement with the upper edge portion of the housing lli and inA this manner prevents the escape of lubricant from the joint structure.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 1, the .closure plate 59 is preferably threaded as at 58 to receive a lubricating fitting 5l .for injecting lubricant into the .interior of the joint structure. In order that the several bearing surfaces may be properly lubricated, it is'desirvable to provide the lower portion of the stud member with spaced openings 55, there being three in number in 'the arrangement illustrated, and the bearing seat member provided withopenings 56 which at times during the operation of the ball joint will come 'into registry with the openings 55 in the stud member so that by means of these openings lubricant may be conveyed to theexterior surface of the ball stud, the interior spherical surface of the housing, and the inner and outer surfaces of the bearing seat member.

By this arrangement, adequate lubrication is not only provided for the surface between the spherical portionvof the stud member and the inner surface of the seat member but through the injection and retention of lubricant in the elongated openings 55 there is provided adequate lubrication for the exterior surface of the seat members and the interior spherical surface of` the housing; Moreover, during operation of the joint structure the seat member 23 may `rotate as there is no limiting means for restricting rotation of the same,'and thus the openingsl or slots 56 containing lubricant may take various positions in the housing so that the entire spherical surface in the housing is lubricated which materially increases the life of the joint structure.

- It isto be noted that the bearing seat member 23 is provided with spaced inwardly extending ears 58, there being three in number in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, and with particular reference to Figure 5, it is to be noted that there is a space S normally provided between the upper surfaces of the ears 58 and the lower peripheral portion 59 of the stud member. It is also to be noted that the upper peripheral portion of the bearing seat member 23 is spaced away from the vertical inverted frusto-conical portion 36 of the stud member 25 so that during operation of the joint and during tilting movements of the ball stud with respect to the housing, the ball stud may move relative to the bearing seat member 23 until the peripheral portion 59 of the ball portion of the stud engages or contacts the upper surface of one of the ears 58 so that during this amount of tilting movement of the stud member the wear, if any, occurs between the exterior surface of the ball portion of the stud and the interior surface of the bearing seat member 23. It is also to `be noted from an examination of Figure 5 that after the` stud is tilted to a greater angle than that shown in dotted lines the stud member will carry with it the bearing seat member 23vthrough contact with the ears 58 so that 'during extreme tilting movements of the stud member the wear will occur between the exterior surface of the bearing seat member 23 and the interior spherical surface 22 of the housing. In this manner the wear which may result during continued operation of the joint due to tilting movements of the stud will be apportioned to two separate sets of bearing surfaces, thus distributing the wear between such sets of bearing surfaces.

The above described arrangement is such that during rotative movements of the stud under lcertain conditions of operation, the wear may occureitherbetween the exterior surface of the ball portion of the stud and the interior surface of the bearing seat member or between the exterior surface of the bearing seat member and ,K the interior spherical surface 22 of the housing,

or the wear may be distributed over both sets of bearing surfaces depending upon relative frictional components of the several surfaces, which frictional components may vary because of such factors as the tension of the spring, the inertia of the parts effected or caused by shocks or vibratory actions due to road irregularities.

It is to be noted that the bearing seat member is rst preferably fabricated as illustrated in FigureS with the ear portions 58 extended downwardly'and that at the time of the assembly of the bearing seat upon the stud member the ears 58 are bent inwardly and laterally thus preventing dislodgment of the bearing seat member with respect to the stud member, yet through the provision of the space S between the lower portion of the stud member and the ears there is permittedv a relative movement between the studv member and the bearing seat member for the purposes hereinbefore explained.

During the fabrication of the bearing seat member `23 the bearing surfaces of the seat, viz., the major body portion of the member is hardened by suitable heat treatment to provide hard wear resisting bearingl surfaces, while the projections or ears 58 are left comparatively soft so that they may be readily bent into nal assembled position as shown in Figures 1 and fwithout being broken.

In the housing structure as shown in Figure 6,

the side wall may be provided with a threaded opening Gli to receive a lubricating fitting 6l. as a modied form of means for injecting lubricant into the joint construction.

It is apparent vthat Within the fscope ofthe invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention `comprehending all variaber and the curved interioi` surface in said hous-l ing, said bearing member' having portions projectingbeneath'said stud member and arranged to provide limited'relative movement between said stud member and said bearing seat; and means normally urging said bearing surfaces into constant engagement".

2. In combinationa tie rod; a joint housing connected tov said tie rod and having a passage therethrough about an axis `transverse Withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the' tie rod; a portion of the Wall of said passage being of 3 spherical conguration; a stud meinberhavnga semi-spherical portion projecting into ,the passage in saidl housing; abearing seat member interposed between the spherical portion of said stud member and the spherical interior surface in i said housing, said bearing member havingportions projecting beneath said stud member and arranged to provide limited relative movement,

between said stud member and said bearing seat; i spring means normally urgingsaid stud member,y l bearing seat and interior housing Wall in proper relationship, said stud member and bearing seat, having openings to receivea lubricant; and a lubricant injecting tting associated `With. said housing for injecting lubricant into said jointv structure. i Y

3. In combination, a joint `housing having a passage therethrough; a portion ofthe Wallof A.lu

said passage being of curvedconguraton; a stud member having a semi-spherical portion `projectseat member interposed between the spherical portion of said stud member and the curved interior surface of said housing, said bearing member having spaced projections extending inwardly beneath said stud member and arranged to provide iimited relative move-ment between said studjl member and said bearing seat; means normally,

urging said stud member, bearing seat and in-` terior housing Wall in proper relationship, said bearing seat member having its inner and outer bearing surfaces hardened, said spaced projections being `maintainedin relativelgT soft and bendable condition. i l REYNOLD E. KLAGES.

20 ing into the passage in said housing; a bearing s f 

